Panthers announce Youth League squads

The Penrith Basketball Association has announced its three Youth League teams for 2016, bolstered by 10players from the Blue Mountains region.

There are a number of exciting selections in the women’s team, including Bryden’s Sydney Uni Flames WNBL point guard Tahlia Tupaea (Glenmore Park) and towering youngster Ashling O’Doherty (Leura).

Both Tupaea and O’Doherty will offer the Youth League unique skills, with Tupaea now a seasoned WNBL player and also a three-time Australian representative at World Championships – two at Under 19 level and once at Under 17s.

O’Doherty is currently playing her first season in the United States in the renowned NCAA, with Trinidad Junior College, Colorado, and will return a vastly more experienced player than when she left Australia’s shores midway through 2015.

The women’s squad is also bolstered by several other senior players, who are dropping down from the Championship League after the Penrith Association elected to bypass that competition in 2016.

Point guard Dominka Offner (Springwood); shooting guard Emily Potts; centres Natalia Beaumont (Emu Heights) and Rhiannon Pope and power forward Ella Tofaeono all played WCL in 2015 and their experience will be invaluable in Youth League.

In form: Ashling O’Doherty (Leura) is expected to suit up for the Panthers Youth League team during the off-season of the NCAA Photo courtesy of Noel Rowsell (梧桐夜网photoexcellence南京夜网419论坛).

The men’s program has not benefited from any players returning from the WCL but there is a solid core of players who led the Panthers to the playoffs in 2015.